Smokeout raises awareness

Nov. 18, 2004
By Braden Rapp
Staff Writer

This year in the United States it is estimated that nearly 169,400 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Yet lung cancer research and treatment remains one of the least funded of all the cancers.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month is a month-long national campaign dedicated to increasing attention towards lung cancer issues. Those involved in Lung Cancer Awareness Month bring much needed support and attention to a disease that kills more people each year than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined.

Lung cancer research receives far less funding, per death, than other cancers. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) budget estimates that only around $1,740 was spent per lung cancer death. This may seem like a large number but when compared to $13,649 per breast cancer death, $10,560 per prostate cancer death, and $4,581 per colorectal cancer death, it is a staggeringly small amount.

Over 90 percent of all cases of lung cancer are tobacco related. There is a social stigma attached to this form of cancer because of this. Lung cancer victims are often blamed for bringing the disease upon themselves.

This idea limits effective personal support and public advocacy for people with lung cancer. In fact, www.lungcancer.org states that 78 percent of doctors feel society perceives lung cancer to be a self-inflicted disease, and if we could remove this stigma, a majority believe, patients would be more encouraged see their doctor.

However, tobacco isn’t the only factor in the cause of lung cancer. The NCI web site gives secondhand smoke, radon and asbestos, organic chemicals and pollution as causes for the disease. Genetics also plays a role in those afflicted.

Smoking, however, is the leading cause of lung cancer, and St. Ambrose is helping spread the word of the importance of funding and awareness of lung cancer by participating in the Great American Smoke-Out. The Great American Smoke-Out is Nov. 18, and is part of a nation wide campaign to get people, even just for a day, to stop smoking.

“ There is a lot of great information about how to quite smoking on my web site--www.sau.edu/healthservices,” nurse Nancy Hines said.

Students can also pick up handouts in regards to kicking the habit in her office.

Some of the tips offered include drinking lots of water to help curb a craving or exercising to keep the mind occupied. Another idea is to chew sugar-less gum or flavored toothpicks.

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